Joan Bates

Joan Bates (Template:Née Collins; 2 September 1929 – 10 March 2016), also self-styled as Princess Joan of Sealand, was the wife of Paddy Roy Bates, a British entrepreneur who founded the self-proclaimed micronation known as the Principality of Sealand.

Early life

Bates was born Joan Collins in 2 September 1929 at Aldershot Barracks in England, the daughter of RSM Albert Collins of the Royal Horse Artillery, and his wife, Elizabeth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="indep" /><ref name=coin>Remembering Sealand’s First Sovereign Princess Joan, 1929–2016. Template:Webarchive Michael Alexander, Coin Update, 22 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.</ref> The family were later stationed at Shoebury Barracks.

As a young woman, Joan was a carnival queen and model who,<ref name=indep>Joan Bates dead: Founder and 'princess' of Sealand dies aged 86. Cahal Milmo, The Independent, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.</ref> according to her son Michael, "modelled for all sorts of companies".<ref name=harw>Joan Bates who raised her family on the principality of Sealand dies aged 86. Harwitch & Manningtree Standard, 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.</ref>

Marriage

Joan met British Army major Paddy Roy Bates at the Kursaal dance hall in Southend-on-Sea. At the time he was recuperating from serious burns suffered during World War II. They married three months later in 1949<ref name=indep/><ref name=BBC>'Princess' Joan of Sealand independent state dies at 86. BBC News, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.</ref><ref>‘Princess Joan of Sealand’: Former carnival queen who became Princess of Sealand after she and her husband Roy set up the 'micro-nation'. Martin Childs, The Independent, 15 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.</ref> at the Caxton Hall Registry Office in London.<ref name=coin/> They had two children, Penelope "Penny" and Michael.<ref name=harw/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sealand

In the 1960s, Roy and Joan launched a pirate radio station and on Joan's birthday on 2 September 1967, they declared the Principality of Sealand independent, appointing themselves Prince Roy and Princess Joan,<ref name=BBC/> thus making Joan the "self-proclaimed ruler of the world's smallest kingdom".<ref name=times>First Princess of Sealand dies aged 86.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer, The Times, 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Template:Subscription required</ref>

Death

Bates died on 10 March 2016 at a Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, nursing home, following a long illness.<ref name=harw/> Her funeral was held on 17 March, with her coffin draped with the flag of Sealand. She was survived by her two children, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.<ref name=coin/>

Bates featured on at least one postage stamp issued by the Principality, as well as coins inscribed "Princess Joan".<ref name=coin/>